London Scottish House scheme set to get go-ahead

Manchester City Council is expected to sign-off plans for a 175,000 sq ft speculative redevelopment of London Scottish House, after officers recommended the scheme for approval ahead of a council meeting next week.

Titan Investors lodged plans for the site at 24 Mount Street in August. The proposals will see the demolition of the five-storey London Scottish House to be replaced by a 17-storey office, to be known as the Assembly building.

Titan was named as the preferred bidder on the 50,000 sq ft block in 2012. The building was bought from the National Asset Management Agency and Walls Developments for around £5.5m.

Walls had purchased the building for £20m, with the site earmarked for a 220,000 sq ft office development, although it is understood that Manchester City Council would only agree to a 160,000 sq ft scheme.

Ahead of the planning and highways committee meeting on Thursday 16 October, a report to the council said: "London Scottish House is considered to be outdate in terms of its environmental credentials and doesn't meet the requirements of modern day occupiers. It has little architectural or heritage significance and its effect on the townscape is, at best, neutral. It could be considered to be out of keeping with other buildings in the surrounding area."

London Scottish House is next to the Midland Hotel, and opposite the Manchester Conference Centre.

The architect on the scheme is Eric Parry, with planning advice by Deloitte.

A statement from Titan Investors said: "Following the rejuvenation of the commercial heart of Manchester over the last 15 years this site will be a major contributor towards the next phase in the Manchester's evolution into the UK's second most important economic centre."